of Consumer Guide, the Editors. "Athlete's Foot." 11 May 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/define-athletes-foot.htm> 09 May 2008.

Athlete's Foot

by the Editors of Consumer Guide

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot (known medically as tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the foot. It is also known as ringworm of the foot, although it is not caused by a worm.

Symptoms

Athlete's foot causes itching, burning, and stinging sensations. The skin between the toes may redden, peel, and crack. In extremely long-lasting cases of athlete's foot, the toenails may become infected, discolored, and overgrown. The fungus may spread to the underside of the foot, beneath the arch, producing groups of itching blisters and peeling skin.

Diagnosis

It is important to rule out other causes of similar symptoms. For example, hot, tight shoes may make the feet sweaty in warm weather; the moisture and friction may cause softening and peeling of the skin on the soles. Dyes, adhesive cements, and other substances inside the shoes may cause irritation, as may some powders and nail polishes. Eczema, psoriasis, and scabies are other possible causes of similar symptoms.

Treatment

Most people can treat athlete's foot at home using one of several good salves, powders, sprays, or liquids that are obtainable without a prescription from the drugstore. These include tolnaftate, miconazole, and clotrimazole. Directions usually call for application morning and night, until one week after all symptoms have vanished. If skin is peeling, soak feet and remove loose skin before applying ointment.

If sweaty feet are the cause of your athlete's foot, ointments should not be used. Instead, you should ask your doctor for suggestions about controlling the excessive sweating. Changing shoes may eliminate the problem if the feet are sensitive to chemicals inside the shoes.

Severe cases of athlete's foot call for treatment by a physician. To relieve symptoms, the doctor may prescribe soaking the feet in a solution of aluminum sulfate and calcium acetate (often called Burow's solution). An antiseptic solution may be added to the Burow's solution if a secondary infection is present.

Prevention

Athlete's foot can recur despite any treatment, especially during hot weather. The organisms that cause athlete's foot thrive in a hot, moist setting. However, there are several things you can do to help prevent the disease. You can keep your feet clean, dry between your toes after bathing, and change socks frequently. Use dusting and drying powders to keep the feet dry. Separate your toes with small wads of cotton when you are sleeping. Wear wooden or rubber clogs in motel and community showers and wear sandals, open-toed shoes, or no shoes at all (when safe and practical) during hot weather.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

The brand name products mentioned in this publication are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. The mention of any product in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the respective proprietors of Publications International, Ltd. or HowStuffWorks.com, nor does it constitute an endorsement by any of these companies that their products should be used in the manner described in this publication.

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of Consumer Guide, the Editors. "Athlete's Foot." 11 May 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/define-athletes-foot.htm> 09 May 2008.

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